I don’t know how it happened, but suddenly it’s June and I’m not happy about it. I only have 25 days in June to enjoy this magical country I want to eventually call my home. Of course this last month is filled with finals and stress, but that obviously isn’t going to stop me from finishing my Australian bucket list.
The other weekend I decided to return to Cairns with my friends Jorge and Jenny. Yes, I’ve already been to Cairns and done tours and spent too much money, but I didn’t see a platypus or a turtle or find Nemo. Those are things that need to be done, so I whipped out my mother’s credit card and packed up.
Our bus left at 7am Saturday morning, unfortunately, GR’s Home Ball was that Friday night. Home Ball was like a mini prom. Everyone got all dressed up and we had buses take us to Mad Cow. We had a free keg and wine until it ran out and we had great music. The alcohol didn’t last long. Those darn college kids.
Home Ball with Bear
Dolled up with my lovely roomie, Katie
Everybody looked so pretty!
Let’s just say waking up at 5:30am was not easy. It didn’t help that I didn’t pack until then either. And I may have still been feeling those beers. Maybe.
Anyway, we took a cab to the Greyhound bus stop and got on with absolutely no problems. Our bus driver had enough energy for all the passengers and we all fell asleep while he was cracking jokes.
We arrived in Cairns and caught a bus to their JCU where we would be spending the next few days with Jorge’s friend Tori. After dropping off our stuff we all cleaned up a bit and headed back into town for dinner.
I finally got to eat at Nando’s. This probably doesn’t mean very much to you, but I’ve been looking forward to this moment since arriving in Oz. Why? Well, I don’t have a good enough explanation for that. Only my best lady, Leslie, fully understands. Regardless, it was fantastic. I may be addicted now. I regret eating it. So good! I found out there’s one in Townsville. Someone is going with me whether they like it or not.
Delicious piece of heaven on earth
After our delicious meal, we hit up the night markets. I should have never set foot in there. I had so much money going in but none coming out. It was so irresistible. How could I not buy a boomerang and golf balls and an Australian flag bikini? Don’t judge me.
This would look perfect in my room.
We walked around the town checking out the lights and other sights. Cairns is really, really pretty. I love Townsville and everything, but it has this habit of shutting everything down after 5pm. Cairns doesn’t have this issue. Cairns is popping at all times. It’s incredible. Shops and restaurants and clubs are open and there are always people walking around. It’s madness.
Casual lights
Just hanging everywhere
Looking magical
Can’t.resist.gelato.
After a much needed sleep, we woke up early yet again to go on a tour. We attended the “On the Wallaby” tour. We were picked up by our guide, Sidney, and settled into the bus. Let me just get this out of the way, Sidney was one of the best tour guides ever. We picked up several other passengers, mostly Americans, and we were off.
Highly suggest this tour to anyone visiting Cairns
We drove up to the Atherton Tablelands. Yes, I’ve been here before, but not on an informed tour. Plus, this tour promised that there was a 70% chance of seeing a platypus. Honestly, that’s worth my life savings so I was cool with a little repeat.
On the drive, we spotted a lot of wallabies. I mean it. It was the most wallabies I’ve ever seen in one spot ever. And I learned stuff. I learned that the wallabies we were looking at were Pretty Faced wallabies. Seems legit. Those are the same type of wallabies we have on campus. They have a white stripe under their eyes so they look pretty.
Such a pretty face
I also learned that if there is not enough food or water, female kangaroos can put their pregnancy on hold for up to 18 months. Kangaroos also can’t move their feet one at a time, so they have to hop. They also pant like dogs to cool themselves off. Ooh, another fun fact that I already knew, but is still pretty cool: the Australian Coat of Arms pictures both a kangaroo and emu because both animals cannot walk backwards. Keep moving forward, Australia!
STRAYA
After staring at awe of the wallabies I see almost every day, we continued on our trip. We drove up the same horrifying and winding road that I did on my last visit. This time it was much more enjoyable.
Sid decided to play the Sheryl Crow song, “Every Day is a Winding Road” to get us in the spirit. We also examined the trees along the road. Fun things were learned. Every one or two years, a fire is purposely started at the top of the mountain because the trees need fire to germinate. The charcoal and ash from the fire are nutrients for this forest. When the granite rocks start to wear away, so do the nutrients. That’s why they need fire. When the soil looks yellow, that means the nutrients are no longer there.
Sid also pointed out the abrupt change from sparse, bush environment to the thick rainforest. It was almost like someone drew a line dividing the two. The rainforest recycles itself, so it doesn’t need fire. Also it would take 8 weeks for a body to decompose in the rainforest. Sid taught us that. Useful info next time someone makes me mad. Totally kidding! Maybe.
The trees in the rainforest have glossy leaves and the trees are all densely packed. To be considered a rainforest, it must have a closed canopy. This happens because all the trees are competing for sunlight and they try to grow over each other.
Also I saw a goanna lizard
Our first stop was the Cathedral Fig Tree. The tree is approximately 500 years old and gigantic. We were able to walk inside of it and it was so awesome. It kind of reminded me of the tree of life in Disney World. If the tree of life didn’t have animal carvings and wasn’t made of plastic.
Beautiful!
Tarzan would love this thing
It belongs in Animal Kingdom in Disney World
Hehe, I’m in a tree
Our next stop was at one of the crater lakes I visited before. This time we went into the rainforest for a quick tour. A quick tour of torture, more like. Sid warned us to watch out for leeches. LEECHES. What? I, for some reason, was under the impression that leeches live in water. Nope, they’re on the rainforest floor as well.
A tree is a safe place to hide from leeches.
Are there leeches in there?
Do you think I paid any attention to anything Sid said from then on? No. I didn’t. I was busy constantly looking at my feet and freaking out every time mud splattered on them. The leeches were really small and got on a few people. Those people were smart and worse sneakers. Since I packed still drunk, I forgot sneaks. Luckily, I made it through without any leeches attaching themselves to me. I don’t know about you, but every time I think of leeches, I think of “Stand By Me” when the boys wade through a creek and get leeches everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE. So my fear was totally rational.
Nightmares forever
Just..no..
Before running out of the rainforest to kiss the paved ground, we stopped and examined the stinging tree. This tree has little hairs on it that cause severe irritation when it makes contact with human skin. The severe stinging can last for months. The stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them. Sid said his friend got stung by this tree and compared the pain to “someone rubbing sandpaper on severe sunburn.” See, Australian animals and bugs get all the credit for being evil, but the plants are out to get you too! Neat.
On a lighter note, there’s a new and rare species of horsefly named the Beyonce Fly. It has a gold patch on its abdomen, so clearly it is the diva of all flies. The fly was discovered in the Atherton Tablelands and is described as being way too bootylicious for ya baby.
My face when I found out this was a real thing. Google it.
A diva is a female version of a hustler
We then stopped at the other crater lake to swim and have a yum lunch. You must understand that I appreciate all foods served outside of George Roberts Hall. This was heavenly. After lunch we were off to Milaa Milaa Falls yet again. We learned that one aboriginal tribe used the word Milaa for waterfall. They had no word for the plural, so they just repeated the word. Milaa Milaa means waterfalls. Cool stuff. This time I attempted a hair flip. My hair is not thick enough, so I failed. Jorge, however, looked flawless.
Oh yeah, and I saw a snake.
I want it.
Can’t say I didn’t try
Dammit Jorge, you’re fabulous.
After that we visited a volcanic crater that was unbelievable. While scientists have tried to explore what lies under the water in this secluded crater, they have not learned very much. How awesome! Sid then threw a rock into the water with a very loud bang.
Deep crater
Nature
Rock
Following the awesome crater, we checked out another waterfall called Dinner Falls. It was called this because long ago people used to come and eat dinner there and the name stuck. Pretty chill place. No leeches. I accept that.
Dinner Falls, clever.
Pretty
On the way back to the lodge for tea and cookies, we had one more stop. This was thee most epic stop of my life. It was the moment of truth. It was time to see a platypus.
The lair of the platypus
We waited about ten minutes. Well, everyone normal waited. I ran back and forth between two viewing platforms saying prayers. Suddenly, a wild platypus appeared! I lost it. I fell to the ground and tried to get my camera to cooperate. Apparently my camera was spazzing just as much as I was and it wouldn’t take a still picture.
Get your act together, camera (the black spec is a platypus)
Without emotion I quietly cursed my camera and stared on in awe (and made sure Jorge got a good picture I could use for the blog). I couldn’t speak. I didn’t even smile. I was in shock.
The platypus was so tiny! Sid said it was “the size of a Subway foot long sub,” but I thought he was kidding. No, it was that small. It was a dark brown and at first I thought it was a branch floating in the water until it dove down and back up several times. I was the last one back on the bus. I couldn’t stop staring. Is this real life? I found Perry the Platypus! Check that one off the bucket list. Amazing.
Thank you Jorge! Look, the little thing is Perry!
Sid had to pull me aside and ask me, “Are you okay? You know, after the platypus?” I’m just an excitable person and I don’t know how to act like a rational human being, not a big deal guys! But I was in shock for a good 20 minutes after.
The next day was full of even more excitement as we went to Green Island to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. On my last journey to the Great Barrier Reef, I went to the outer reefs, which were full of color and wonder. Green Island was not as colorful, but it was definitely full of magic.
Absolutely stunning.
I never ever ever want to leave
We went on this trip with “Big Cat” and it was lovely. We had a beautiful day, the water was clear as day, and I was buzzing with excitement. We had booked snorkeling, a glass bottom boat tour, and a semi-sub tour. Our first event was snorkeling.
Since it’s winter here (ha ha, “winter”), we no longer had to wear a stinger suit. That means I got to look like the biggest tourist ever in my brand new Australian flag bikini! Woo! We were the first ones in the water.
I am the queen of the tourists
Within 15 minutes of entering the water we saw a…wait for it… TURTLE. We saw a turtle. Chilling in the sea grass, no worries. Do you know how loud you can scream with a snorkel in your mouth? Apparently very loud, I tested it. Jorge later told me, “I heard you and figured you either got stung or saw a turtle.”
TURTLE TURTLE TURTLE
I love you forever.
Luckily, it was the turtle that caused my screaming. I chased him down. I was not letting him out of my sight. I snapped some awesome pictures and I even got to pet him! I pet the turtle! When I finally decided to stop harassing Crush from Finding Nemo, I popped up out of the water and screamed with joy. BEST TRIP EVER!
Pretty much had the camera on his back.
My life is complete. I love the world.
What a pretty shell you have.
He didn’t mind my chasing at all.
Two best friends, just hanging out.
Since nothing could possibly top that moment, we all got out of the water and grabbed some lunch. Even though it cost a pretty penny, I ordered an Aussie Steak Burger. I regret nothing. It was spectacular. If there’s one thing Australians can do, it’s burgers. I haven’t had a burger in this country that I haven’t loved. It was perfect and filling.
Om nom nom
After lunch, I had my semi-sub tour. The semi-sub was a boat where you walked down steps to a room of windows under water. It was so cool! I saw another turtle and two stingrays. Success. They also fed the fish so I got to witness a feeding frenzy underwater. Definitely worth it.
The semi-sub
coral
Aw herro wittle fishies
Definitely Instagram worthy
My next tour was the glass bottom boat. This was kind of a let down after the semi-sub, but still really enjoyable. They fed the fish on this tour too and I witnessed the frenzy above water. The fish were really going at it.
Hi Jorge!
Glass bottom boat time
feeding time!
So many fish
Fish attack!
Oh and here’s some pictures from snorkeling besides the turtle!
Pretty coral
Giant clam
The “we really saw a turtle!” face
Oh hey
Blue starfish!
“Paint me like one of your French girls”- this starfish
The water was so perfect
Love you Green Island
Hi Jenny!
Jenny and I
Unfortunately, I did not find Nemo or Dory or see a shark. Honestly, I’m perfectly okay with that. I got to see a platypus and touch a wild sea turtle in one weekend. I’m totally satisfied with my visit to Australia. I’ve done nearly everything I wanted to do. Of course, this does not mean I want to leave. I never want to leave. I want to stay here forever with all the lovely friends I’ve made and chase wallabies and just be happy for the rest of my life. Oh god, I’m going to start crying… June 25th is coming way too soon.
I’m not ready to leave my weirdos
I can’t think about it
Because I’m going to cry
I’m too attached
I love my Aussies
Nope, I’m not leaving.
A Broad Abroad 